Hemming question

Maya

I just got a call for a follow-up interview a few days ago, leaving me with no time to get my pants professionally hemmed, so I took them to my mom. I noticed while she was hemming that they kind of bunched a lot in the front over my foot because I was wearing flats (my other pants are hemmed for a low heel). If she went any shorter, I'd be violating PPL, but I find the bunchiness at the front rather sloppy looking. Is this normal? I asked her if she could hem them on a slant and she thought I was being ridiculous, but I wonder if that's possible or if it would look weird. I never had this problem before, probably because I never wear dress pants, and they are a lot wider than the straight legs and slim bootcuts I usually wear.

17 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Dani

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I know exactly what you mean, Maya. This tends to happen from time to time and I’m not sure why. I think it’s the drape of the fabric. Try a quarter of an inch shorter.

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

It happens to me except it's usually the back that's too long compared to the front. In my case I think it's because I basically have no butt, while I do have some quad muscles, and of course, a bhudda belly.

So yeah, slanting the hem is a really smart thing to do, and it's what a professional tailor would probably do. I'm guessing here on that one.

I just know that my mom, who's an incredible seamstress (but alas lives too far to help me out with free tailoring!!) always pins the hem while I'm wearing it, and goes around meticulously pinning so it it looks even. She doesn't simply decide based on back or front where to pin, and then hem at that length evenly all around.

For skirts she'll take a yard ruler and measure from ground to hem to ensure it's even (NOT from waist to hem- big difference). Since I'm wearing it, this may mean that it's still longer in front and shorter in back. As long as my body is in it, it looks even to the world. Make sense?

This is good tip to know for anyone who has any sort of issue like for example a curved spine or one hip higher than the other or leg discrepancy or lucky enough to have a bubble booty, etc.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I just called my mom and read her Maya's question. She said:

It's inevitable if the desired length of the pants is to "just skim the floor in the back". The wider the pant leg, the less of a problem this is, because a wider pant will not get caught up on the shoe. The solution is to shorten the pants 1/2 to 1 inch depending on the width of the pant leg. The wider it is, the less you have to hem it.

In regard to your idea to hem it at angle she said: the seamstress would have to make "tucks" in the hem itself to compensate for the angle of the hem. She said it's not impossible to do, but probably best left to a professional tailor or someone with higher than average sewing skills.

I hope this helps Maya, and if you have any other questions, she sad to feel free to ask them via me.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Wow, what service! Thanks Nicole (and Nicole's mom)!

That's counterintuitive to me. I thought the wider the pant leg, the more of a problem it would be, but I guess that makes sense. Maybe it's a fabric issue, as Angie said. I normally have jeans hemmed and I don't really notice it. These pants are pretty crisp and stiff though.

It looks better after being hemmed (as opposed to pinned). Still a little slouch but nothing awful. I guess I can ask the tailor about it when I have time to go. My mom has always hemmed my pants and made small alterations for me and it has suited me just fine. I think she secretly knows there should be a slight slant but she just didn't feel like doing it :p

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

All sorted! Good luck

What position are you interviewing for?

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

The position is for a packaging production artist. The company does packaging for a lot of cosmetics/personal care companies, including CHANEL! For my test today, they had me do a Clinique box. It's not creative at all, but it's a starting point. I would eventually like to be the one doing the designs, instead of just taking someone else's design and sticking it on the box.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's the spirit, Maya. Keep us posted on how you fare.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Good luck Maya! Let us know how it went!

17 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

All the best Maya. I'll put in my plug for good old masking tape as a quick fix solution and a great way to test out if it will bunch or not in the future. By the way, the masking tape lasts through 3 wears without letting down the hem.

17 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Thank you girls. Sihaya, I thought of the masking tape thing, but figured I better not pin my hopes on it during an interview.

If I get the job, I'm treating myself to these:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=587822

Exactly what I've been looking for!

17 years ago

Dani

Veteran

Oooh, I like those Maya! Good luck with the interview. The position sounds really interesting.

17 years ago

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